Another layer of shame has been added to the so-called National Coursing Meeting, the All-Ireland final of the blood sport, held in Clonmel over the weekend. A greyhound called Dicks Bimbo won the “Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stakes final.” read full story / add a comment

Our group co-organised the large demonstration against Live Hare Coursing at the Powerstown Park Coursing Disgrace.

A quieter than usual and less well attended event. RTE did not even give much coverage, thankfully it’s a dying pastime which for us is the equivalent to child abuse.

Our biggest question was- why was a convicted man on charges of blooding gentle hares [to train his dogs} allowed participate?
He was Ger Mc Kenna’s son Owen Mc Kenna who was filmed at a Tipperary track some years ago. Journalist Donal McIntyre secretly filmed McKenna and others clearly blooding the dogs, for a BBC documentary on the greyhound industry. A court case ensued and Judge Michael Patwell sentenced Owen McKenna and a number of other defendants to prison terms.

Please see link (below) to footage of the blooding session (part of the documentary entitled “On the Line”) in which you will see Mr. McKenna calmly inflict pain and suffering on the captive rabbits.
The ICC should now be asked to explain its position…how can it possibly stand over McKenna’s involvement in the National Coursing Meeting if, as it claims, it does not blooding.

The spotlight among animal lovers will on the plight of the hares for the next three days (Saturday February 10th, 11th, and 12th) in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, but spare a thought for the greyhounds. Several have already been withdrawn from the “National Coursing Meeting” due to outbreak of a highly contagious infection in kennels in four different counties. read full story / add a comment

This interesting piece from Thierry Meyssan outlines the real plan behind the recent positive news about Rojava. It seems the empire has been selling the story of a wonderful democratic paradise about to be setup in Rojava when in fact the whole thing is a cover for the empire and once again shows how the Left have been used and subverted to promote their plans.

The discussion in France on where the French jihadists captured in Syria would be judged, is a clear example of a false debate. It is animated by a television presenter and journalist that hide their links to their listeners. The issue of where jihadists of French nationality will be tried is in fact intended to lay the groundwork for getting rid of those that can testify to France’s military role against Syria. Hoping that its allies accept it, France is preparing to recognize a pseudo State, under the name “Rojava”, following the model used in “Kosovo”. read full story / add a comment

The 18th annual winter workshop organized by Cooley Environmental and Health Group will start at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday 27 January 2018 in The Strand, Omeath, Co. Louth. It is expected to finish at 5:30 p.m. on the same day. Anyone who wishes to stay overnight should contact The Strand as soon as possible. +353(0)429375161. The theme of the workshop is Mental Health Care in Louth, 1918 - 2018 and Beyond. read full story / add a comment

The housing crisis is a running sore in Irish society. It cries out for a campaign of ‘people power’ to force through a programme of council house building, rent controls and to end landlord evictions.

For the past two years, People Before Profit has been working with others to help create a coalition that can bring tens of thousands onto the streets.

Christmas is an ancient feast that has many positive associations for people around the world. While the bible places the birth of Christ in Bethlehem it does not say when, but by the 4th century the Churches in the East were celebrating it on January 6 and the Churches of the West on December 25.

One thing is certain about Christmas is that it is rooted in many traditions and superstitions relating to nature that existed long before Christmas and many have continued in one form or another to the present day. The many strands of Christmas can be seen in the variety of different traditions associated with, or originating in, places all over Europe. These strands are, inter alia, the solstice, the Nativity, Saturnalia, Yuletide, St Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Grandfather Frost (Ded Moroz). read full story / add a comment

We are publishing this piece by PANA explaining what PESCO is about and how it means the loss of our neutrality. Unfortunately since then on Dec 7th the Dail voted by 75 to 42 to join PESCO.
Some key points are:
1) PESCO is a binding agreement because it says so. The government claims it is not. It is.
2) PESCO commits us to spending 2% of GDP on military spending by 2022. This is a figure of € 5.5 billion. We currently spend 1/10th of that on defense. This makes a mockery of "fiscal space"
3) PESCO in the event of crisis places under NATO's command. Therefore we are no longer neutral.
4) PESCO is the side door to Ireland joining a EU Army / NATO and would have us involved in "humanitarian" bombing and "peace making" -in other words imposing the demands of the corporate interests that rule above all else.
The Irish Government is considering joining PESCO. This will be one of the most important decisions this FG/Independeny Alliance will ever make. There needs at the very least a serious debate on the issue, and in any genuine debate form all sides in the corporate media. On the evidence so far this is highly improbable, as is their total lack of coverage of the use of Shannon Airport by US troops read full story / add a comment

The Irish Government will appear in the High Court on Tuesday (12 December) in relation to its alleged failure to take the required action to avert dangerous climate change. read full story / add a comment

The Luas Cross City is a boon for Dublin city but what does it mean for people who cycle along or across this route? Cycling and on-street tram tracks is a safety issue all over the world. In general cyclists learn fast, and realise that they must take greater care around the tracks, and ideally cross them at a large angle, while at the same time be aware of other surrounding traffic. read full story / add a comment

Richard Boyd Barrett TD, has condemned the government with the support of Fianna Fail for tabling a Dail motion this Thursday for Ireland to join the EU PESCO agreement on advanced military and defence cooperation. read full story / add a comment

This is a repost of an recent article (Dec 1st) by economic analyst and trade unionist Michael Taft on www.tasc.ie covering the good news trend where there is now a trend in Europe of reversing privatisations. And that is certainly something positive.

There is a spectre haunting Europe – the spectre of de-privatisation, re-municipalisation, and re-nationalisation. Local, regional and national Governments throughout Europe and in other countries - fed up with high costs, low investment, deteriorating quality and poor working conditions – are taking services back into public control and ownership. For many, privatisation has produced poor results; now they are starting to reverse that process. Public ownership is back on the agenda.
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Ladxido’be Fundraiser, a group of Mexicans in Ireland, have joined with the Latin America Solidarity Centre to organise a very special cross-cultural event. As part of its worldwide tour to promote solidarity with the earthquake-stricken state, the Oaxaca FilmFest will come to Temple Bar’s Filmbase on Thursday, December 7th. read full story / add a comment